Lock mechanism



1,626,065 prll 26 f 1927 F. w. ANDREW ET AL Loox MECHANISM Filed June 21. 1926 l 4 v ATTORNEY.

IN VENTORS':

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UITED STATES FREDERICK W. ANDREW, OFk ANDALUSIA,

yPATENT OFFICE.

IENNSYLVANIA, AND MILTON TIBBETTS,

F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO EACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DE- TROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

LOCK MECHANISM.

Application filed .Tune 21,

This invention relates to lock mechanism and particularly to combination key and keyless lock mechanism. y

'One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a` lock mechanism that may be released without a key but which, it improperly operated, will run with the mechanism ineffectual.

Another object of the invention is to Tprovide a switch mechanism with both a key and a keyless releasingh device.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a lock mechanism with a. hand release mechanism ot novel and eiiicient construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciproeating;Y 'lock member with a rotating and reciprocating lock release device which rendered inoperative upon being` improperly manipulated.

finotherobjectot the invention is to provide a lock mechanism with a hand release device which must be rotated to av predetermined position betore it will unlock the mechanism and which must be rotated to another position before the mechanism can return to its full unlocked position.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the :following` description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view ot a lock mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig'. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2*-2 ot Fig. 1 with the switch in its locked position;

3 is a section substantially on the line ot Fig. 2;

Figi. 1lis a section substantially on the line ot 2;

Fig. I) is a sectional view of part of the mechanism shown in 2 With the release mechanism locked in inoperative position, and

Fig. t is a' view somewhat similar to Fig. 5 showing the switch in its unlocked position.

Referring to the drawings, indicates the steering column oiiaymotor vehicle and' 11 is the instrument board thereof. '12'is' a bracket connecting,l the steering-column' to the instrument-board and forming a support fori the lock mechanism thereof. Any suitable `only by mea-ns of the key mechanism.

1926. Seria1`N0. 117,248.

to the steering` column and instrument board may be employed; y

The invention is shown in connection with reciprocating switch and this switch is indicated generally at 13 in Fig. 2. A plunger 14- is connected to it, and an integral rod or -bar 15 extends from the plunger to the switch. A guide piece 16 is mounted in the bracket 12 to surround and guide the plunger 141-, and a spring 17 surrounds the rod 15 and yieldiugly presses the plunger 1-1 outwardly towards its on or unlocked position. A pin 18 limits the movement oi' the plunger 14.

This plunger 14 and the switch of which it is a part forms the member to be locked. 1t is n'ianua'lly pushed inwardl to its locked position and the spring 17 presses it outwardly to its unlocked position. It is retained in its locked position by a locking bolt 19 operating` behind a shoulder 19 andspringj pressed to that position as by a spring` 2O as shown inFig. '2. The bolt may be retracted'by the ordinary key lock cylinder 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The plunger may always be unlocked by this key release mechanism. It is shown in its locked position in Figs. 2 and 5 and in its unlocked position in Fig. 6. In this latter position the switch is closed and current for the ignition of the engine is transmitted through a wire 22 in the usual way.

The bolt 19 which forms the device for locking' the member 14 may also be released from its locking position by hand operated mechanism without the use of a key. This mechanism is so constructed that it will release the bolt when it is manipulated in but one `ot its several positions and when it is `manipulated in any other but this one posi- Vtion it is locked out of operation so that there-after the locking bolt can be released 1n other words, the correct manipulation of this hand release mechanism will operate to release the bolt but the incorrect manipulation .of it will renderk it inoperative.

Aliso, since it is undesirable to leave the hand release mechanism in its releasing position for the observance of other than the operator, 'means are provided for requiring the-turning oit'y the mechanism to another position` before. the switch :member can move means5`n`ot shown, for connecting' the' bracket to itsv full unlocke'd'position.

suitably mounted in the casing '12 adjacent thc plunger' 14 and preferably parallel thereto, is a shaft 23 which may be both rotated and reciprocated. This shaft is provided with a linger piece 24 which has a pointer 25 adapted to co-operate with dial 2G on the face of the casing. This pointer and dial indicate the position of certain of the parts of the shaft as will be hereinafter described.

The linger piece 24 has a bolt 2T extending through the shaft 23, and a large headed screw 23 at the inner end of the bolt 27 op erates as a stop for a spring 29 surrounding the inner end of the bolt. There is a splined connection between the outer end of the shaft 23 and the linger piece 24, as at 30, which connection permits angular adjustment of the finger piece and consequently the dial 25, as shown in Fig. 2. This result is accomplished, as seen in Fig. 2, by merely pulling outwardly thc finger piece 24, thereby conipressing the spring 29 and turning the finger piece relative to the shaft 23 and letting the splined connection drop into a different groove.

The shaft 23 is formed with two separated annular flanges 31 and 32, leaving an annular groove 33 between them. At one point in the circumference of these flanges there is a cani 34 arranged to operate a pivoted dog 35, the latter being pivoted at 33 in the casing or bracket. This dog in a way forms a continuation of the locking bolt 19 since one of its arms 37 rests against the bolt 19 and another of its arms 33 rests on the outer surface of the flange 31. The spring bolt 19, therefore.. yieldingly presses the dog 35 against the flange 31 and towards the center of the shaft 23. Thus, if the shaft 23 is pushed inwardly the arm of the dog 35 will drop into the groove 33 of the shaft unless it so happens that the shaft has been rotated to a position where the cam 34 is directly under the arm 33. ln that event, the Cain 34 will push the dog or lever and rock it on its pivot so that its arm 37 will push the bolt 19 inwardly and release it from the shoulder 19. The spring 17 will then tend to push the plunger 14 outwardly. However. if the plunger should be moved outwardly to its fully unlocked position with the pointer 25 in thc release position of the shaft 23, the pointer would be left in that position and it would be easy for some unauthorized person to note the position of the pointer and then such unauthorized pen son would be iu possession of the loch combination. The plunger 14 therefore .is pro vided with an arm secured to it as by the screws 40, which arin will abut against the flange 31 when the .ilunger 14 attempts to move outwardly under pressure of the spring 1T. The plunger therefore cannot move out wardly without carrying with it the shaft 23 and the shaft 23 is held against outward movement as by means that will now be dcscribed.

rrt the inner end of the shaft 23 is a block 41 which forms a continuation of the shaft and moves with it both in its rotary movement and in its reciprocating movement, except of course when the finger piece is being adjusted relative to the shaft, as explained above. This block 41 has its outer end serrated, as shown particularly at 42 in Fig. 4, and a spring pressed pin 43 operated on these serrations so that the rotation of the shaft may be felt by the operator and the shaft may be advanced around step by step. The inner ends of these serrations are beve-led, as shown at 44 in 2, so that when the shaft 23 is pushed inwardly the pin 43 will ride up on the outer surface of the block and drop into an annular groove 45 in the block. The pin 43 thereafter retains the shaft 23 against outward movement until the shaft has been further rotated so that the pin is in line with the longitudinal groove 46 in the block. This groove will then permit the outward movement of the shaft 23 and since the arm 39 of the plunger 14 is pressing outwardly against the flange 31 of the shaft 23, the plunger and the shaft are moved outwardly together with the pointer 25 in a position different from the release position of the cam Preferably the pointer is in the zero position of the dial 26 so that the pointer will always stand atzero position just after it has been manipulated to release the bolt. The inner part of the bolt 27 is square, as shown at 47 in Figs. 3 and 4, and the openingl in the block 41 is lso square so that the block will turn with the bolt 27 and consequently with the linger piece O" FI- Thus the block 41, and consequently its longitudinal groove 46, bears a constant relationship to the position of the pointer 25 regardless of the angular adjustment of the linger piece 24 relative to the shaft 23.

The shaft 23 is provided with a spring 43 which operates against the flange 31 for retracting the shaft. The shaft 23 also is provided with splines 49 between which a pin 50 operates as the shaft is reciprocated. A t the ends of the splines 49 are annulaigrooves 51 and 52 and when. the pin 5() is in either of these grooves the shaft 23 may he rotated. However. when the shaft 23 is in an intermediate position, the pin 50 is between two of the splines 49 and consequently the shaft cannot be rotated. The shaft is in this intermediate position when the arni 33 of the lever 35 has dropped into the anniv lar .groove 33 of the shaft, and the shaft, therefore. is their locked against both reciprocation and rotation since the arm 33 prevents reciprocation and the pin 50 prevents rotation. The annular groove 51 is provided so that the shaft may be rotated to its correct position for endwise movement to release the bolt, and the annular groove 52 is provided so that the shaft -may again be rotated to permit the pin 43 to line up with the groove 46 and the shaft returned to its original position.

In order that the hand release mechanism may he reset after it has been incorrectly manipulated, means are provided for withdrawing the lever from the groove ars the plunger 14 is moved to its unlocked position as by the use of the key release mechanism. Thus, the lever 35 has an arm 53 thereon co-operating VTith an opening 54 in the arm 39 of the plunger. The arm 53 is preferably tapered so that as the plunger 14 moves to its unlocked position, the arm 39 will operate alongl the tapered part of the arm and positively withdraw the arm 33 from the groove`33 and thereby vrelease the shaft 23 so its spring 43 may yret-urn it to its original position.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: l/Vhen it is desired to stop the engine of a motor vehicle, the switch is moved vto its off position by the operator pushing in the plunger 14. As the switch goes off, the locking bolt 19 catches behind the shoulder 19 andretains the plunger and the switch in locked position. The parts are then as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that in Fig. 2 the shaft 23, and consequently the pointer 25, have been turned 180o. Assuming that the combination or release number is 6 on the dial 26, in order to release the plunger 1'1- the linger' piece 24, and consequently the shaft 23, may be rotated from zero, as shown in Fig. 1, to 6, as shown in Fig. 2. This brings the cam 34 directly in line with the arm 33 and if the shaft 23 is then pushed inwardly, the cam will operate through the dog 35 to push the locking bolt 19 inwardly until it is released from the shoulder 19. The spring 17 will then tend to push the plunger 14 outwardly and the arm 39 will abut against the flange 31 of the shaft 23. The pin 43 has entered the groove 45 and the shaft 23 therefore cannot be retracted until its pointer 25 has been manually turned to zero position. lVhen the shaft reaches that position it immediately snaps back into place and the plunger' 14 snaps to its fully unlockedposition. It is shown in this position in Fig. 6. f f

rrssuming that the parts are as "shown in F ig. 2 except that the shaft 23 is lin any other angular position, such, for instance, as zero position, one nnacqnainted-with'the release number would have but one chance in twelve of guessing the correct number and, if he would not guess the right one the first time, the mechanism would be locked in'in" operative position. Thus,suppose the unauthorized person 'pushed the sha-ft 23 inwardly'with the pointer 25 in zero position. After the start. of the inward movementof the shaft 23, the pin 50 would enter between two of the splines 49 and the shaft could not then be turned to feel for the cam 34. If the shaft is then pushed as much as half way inwardly, the arm 38 will catch in the annular groove 33 and prevent further movement of the shaft. As the arm 33 pressed into the groove 33 by spring action of the bolt 19, it will stay there and also prevent retraction of the shaft 23. rllhe shaft 23 may therefore neither be pushed in or pulled out, and it is also impossible to rotate it. It is shown in this position in Fig. The hand release mechanism therefore is entirely inoperative and the only way the plunger can be unlocked is by the4 key mechanism. yVhen the key is applied and the locking bolt 19 withdrawn, the arm 39 of the plunger operates against the lever to withdraw it from the groove 33 and the shaft 23 ret-urns by the action of its spring to its original position.

Vhil'e we have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of `our invention, which we deem to be new and advantageous and may specifically claim, we do not desire it to be understood that our invent-ion is limited to the exact details of the construction, as it will be apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a reciprocating switch element and a locking device therefor, of means for releasing the locking device comprising a reciproeating release element and means to prevent turning the release element when the latter has been reciprocate'd from its inoperative position towards its releasing position.

2. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a switch element spring pressed towards one position, and locking means for holding the element in vits other position, of means for releasing said switch element from its locked position comprising an element adapted to be rotated and reciprocated and having a device to release said switch element when said release element is reciprocated with said device in a predetermined position, andmeans for preventing rotation of the release element immediately after it has been started on its reciprocating movement to release the switch element. v

3. In a lool; mechanism, the combination with a reciprocating switch element, of a reciprocating release'element mounted parallel therewith, a 'spring pressed transversely operating locking device for the switch element, and means on the release element for moving said device to its inoperative posi- `tion upon' reoiprocation of the release element with said means in a certain predetermined position.

et. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a locking device, of means to release said locking device comprising a shaft hav-- ing a high point thereon co-operating with said ldevice to release the latter, a nnger piece having a key connection to said shaft, and a bolt extending through said shaft for retaining said finger piece in keyed relation to said shaft.

5. A hand release mechanism for lock devices comprising a shaft having means thereon to release the lock mechanism, a finger piece for said shaft having means for angular adjustment on said shaft, and a bolt extending through said shaft and adapted to retain said finger piece in adjusted position thereon.

6. In a lock release mechanism, the combination with a lock device to be released, of a shaft having means thereon for releasing said device as the shaft is reciprocated, a tinger piece at one end of said shaft for rotating and reciprocating` the shaft, and a spring surrounding the shaft for returning the latter to its normal inoperative position.

7. In a loclr release mechanism, the combination of a lock device to be released, of means for releasing said device comprising a shaft adapted to be rotated and reciprocated, a spring to return said shaft to its normal inoperative position after being reciprocated, and means preventing rotation of said shaft at intermediate points of its reciprocation without interfering with its rotation at both ends of its reciprocating movement. fr;

8. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a member to be locked, spring means for moving said member from its locked to its unlocked position, and a locking device for retaining said member in its locked po` sition, of means for releasing said device comprising a release element adapted to be rotated and reciprocated, and means co-operating with said release element and interconnecting said release element with said member to be locked, so constructed that thel release element must first be turned to a predetermined position and then reciprocated to release said device whereby said member is moved towards its unlocked position but is retained by said release element until the latter is turned to another predetermined position.

9. In a. lock mechanism, the combination with a member to be locked, a spring for returning said member to its unlocked position, and a locking device for retaining said member in its locked position, of means for releasing said member from locked position comprising a .shaft adapted to be rotated and reciprocated, a. linger piece for operating the shaft, means on the shaft arranged in predeneeaoee termined and adjustable position angularly relative to said finger piece, sai-d shaft means being adapted to release said device as the shaft is reciprocated, means preventing rotation of the shaft except when it is in one or the other of its extreme positions, means interconnecting the shaft and said member whereby the shaft retains the member against retraction after said device has released said member, and means on the shaft whereby the latter may be returned to its normal inoperative position when rotated to a predetermined angular position.

l0. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a reciprocating switch member, a spring pressed laterally operating locking bolt for said member, a release shaft having a high point thereon adapted to co-operate with said locking bolt to release said locking bolt, and means opera-ted by the spring of said bolt for holding the shaft in inoperative position when said shaft is reciprocated with its high point in any but a certain predetermined position.

l1. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a reciprocating .switch member, a spring pressed laterally operating locking bolt for said member, a release shaft having a high point thereon adapted to co-operate with said locking bolt to release said locking bolt, means operated by the spring of said bolt for holding the shaft in inoperative position when said shaft is reciprocated with its high point in any but a certain predetermined position, and means preventing rotation of the shaft when so held in inoperative position.

12. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a reciprocating switch device, a locking bolt therefor, a bolt release mechanism comprising a. reciprocating element having a high point thereon, means adapted to catch and hold said element when reciprocated with its high point in any but a certain predetermined position, and a .second release mechanism adapted to release said bolt and reset the first release mechanism.

13. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a member to be locked, a. locking bolt therefor, a bolt release mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be manually rotated and reciprocated, said .shaft having two separated annular flanges thereon providing an annular groove between them, and a` member arranged between the bolt and said shaft adapted to release the bolt when the shaft is reciprocated in one of its angular positions and adapted to catch in said `groove and prevent retraction of the sha-ft when the shaft is reciprocated in another of its angular positions.

lll. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a reciprocating plunger and a locking bolt therein, of a bolt release mechanism, a. latch adapted to catch and hold said mechanism when the latter is incorrectly operated,

loo

and means on the plunger for restoring said latch to its inoperative position when the plunger is moved to its unlocked position.

l5. In a lock release mechanism, the combination of a shaft having a release cam thereon, means for catching and holding the shaft When the latter is reciprocated in any but its release position, means for catching and holding the shaft when the latter is given a full reciprocation in its releasing position, said latter means acting to retain said shaft against reciprocation until it has been rotated to another predetermined position.

16. In a lock release mechanism, the combination of a. shaft adapted to be rotated and reciprocated, said shaft being formed With splines and with an annular groove at each end of the splines, a stationary pin adapted to operate in sai-d grooves and in the spaces between said splines, thus permitting rotation of the shaft at its eXtreme positions by preventing rotation at an intermediate position, and `a latch for catching and holding the shaft at an intermediate position when the shaft is operated in any but a certain predetermined angular position.

17 In a lock release mechanism, the combination of a shaft adapted to be manually rotated and reciprocated, releasing means on the shaft arranged to operate upon reciprocation of the shaft with the releasing means in a certain angular position, and means to retain said shaft against retraction until the shaft is rotated to another angular position.

In testimony whereof We alix our signatures.

FREDERICK W. ANDREIV. MILTON TIBBETTS. 

